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Ex-superintendent city Schools, San Francisco 



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SAN FRANCISCO 

Cunningham, Cuktiss & Welch. 

1899 



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Copyright, 1899, by John W. Taylor. 



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NOTE. 

Since my return from the Philippine Islands, in April of 
this year, I have been impressed by the general desire ex- 
hibited in this country for information regarding this new 
possession of ours. So many mistaken ideas prevail in 
regard to the Archipelago, its extent, its people, its re- 
sources, climate, products and possibilities, that it has 
seemed to me worth while to put into compact form the 
salient facts on all these points. I have purposely abstained 
from going into details regarding the forms of a government 
no longer, happily, to be permitted to impede the progress 
of that richly endowed region- — or from offering any sug- 
gestions as to what this country should or should not do in 
reference to the Philippines. Our government has already 
enough voluntary counsellors to involve it in hopeless con- 
fusion, but I have endeavored to make a clear, definite 
statement of the matter treated in this little book, in a 
manner that will be understandable by the children of our 
schools, whom it will now be necessary to teach much more 
to know something of commercial and agricultural condi- 
than in the past about the Philippines. At the same time it 
is hoped that the book may prove useful to those who wish 
to know something of commercial and agricultural condi- 
tions in the Archipelago. J. W. T. 



THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 

CHAPTER I. 

HISTORIC. 

FIRST APPEARANCE IN HISTORY. The first his- 
toric mention which we have of the territory now known 
as the Philippine Archipelago, occurs in a record of 
1509, in which year certain Portuguese navigators, re- 
turning from a voyage, reported having seen in the har- 
bor of Malacca the ships of dusky traders from some 
island country in the great Pacific. Not until twelve 
years later, however, were the islands actually dis- 
covered by Europeans. 

DISCOVERY OF THE ARCHIPELAGO. On 
October, 1520, the great navigator, Magellen, dis- 
covered the long-sought-for seaway now known as 
the Straits of Magellen, sailed through it, and on the 
26th day of November entered the Pacific Ocean. On 
March i6th, 1521, with a fleet of three vessels, he 
reached the Ladrone Islands. Continuing their voyage, 
Magellen and his captains came to the Island of Min- 
danao, second in size of the Philippine group, and coasted 
along the north shore until, in Easter week, they reached 
the mouth of the Butuan River. Here they were kindly 
received by the chief of Mindanao and his subjects, who 
supplied them with provisions, of which they were 
greatly in need. The voyagers landed and celebrated 
mass, and shortly afterwards Magellen took formal 
possession of the territory in the name of the king of 
Spain. The fleet then proceeded north to the island 
of Cebu, -accompanied by the chief of Butuan. The 
natives of Cebu were at first inclined to be hostile, but 
the chief represented that the strangers were peaceful 
people who sought to provision their ships, upon which 
representation they received the travelers kindly. 



6 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

MAGELLEN ENTERED INTO A TE.EATY with the 
people of Cebu, and undertook to help them in a war 
which they were carrying on with the tribes of the 
opposite coast. In accordance with this agreement he 
passed over, on the 25th of April, to the island of Mat- 
gan, where, in fighting for his new allies, he was fatally 
wounded by an arrow. 

THE ISLANDS WERE FIRST CALLED THE PHIL- 
IPPINES in the year 1543, in honor of Prince Philip 
of Asturias, the son of King Charles I, and afterwards 
King Philip II of Spain. 

IN THE YEAR 1570 MIGUEL LOPEZ DE LEGASPI 
was appointed '^Governor General of all the lands that 
he might be able to conquer" in these islands. Legaspi 
took formal possession of the entire territory, declared 
the city of Manila (then called by the natives Maynila) 
capital of the Archipelago, and proclaimed the sov- 
ereignty of the king of Spain. In June, 1 571 , he consti- 
tuted the City Council of Manila. He was, for his race 
and time a wise and humane man, but he died at Manila 
in 1572, and the record of Spain's rule in these islands 
during the 326 years that followed is one of cruelty 
and oppression, exercised in the name of law and of 
religion, over a docile and inoffensive people. 

IN THE AUTUMN OF 1762, during the war between 
France and Spain, on the one hand, and England on 
the other, the British, under Admiral Cornish and Brig- 
adier General Draper, invaded the Archipelago and 
compelled its surrender. The English remained in the 
islands until March 17, 1764, when Manila was evacu- 
ated, the King of England accepting in lieu of the Phil- 
ippines an indemnity equal to $4,000,000. 

ON MAY 1st, 1898, during the war between Spain and the 
United States, an American fleet, under Admiral 
George Dewey, entered Manila harbor and completely 
destroyed the Spanish fleet lying at anchor there. On 
the 13th day of August, of the same year, the United 
States having sent an army to the assistance of Admiral 
Dewey, an attack was made on the city of Manila, 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 7 

which, after making a show of resistance, surrendered. 
On Saturday, December loth, 1898, at 9 o'clock, P. M., 
terms of peace were agreed upon between the 
the United States and Spain, under which Spain ceded 
to the United States her sovereignty in the Philippine 
Archipelago,acceptingin consideration for public works, 
buildings, etc., the sum of $20,000,000. The natives of 
the Philippines, being then in a state of rebellion against 
the rule of Spain, certain leaders among them denied the 
right of that country to make any transfer of sov- 
ereignty over them, raised an army and declared war 
against the incoming power. This war is not yet ended. 

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF THE PHILIP- 
PINES. The Philippine Archipelago is situated in 
the southeast of Asia, and extends from 4^40" to 20° 
N. lat. and from 1 16° 40" to 126' 40' E. long. To the 
west and northwest lies the China Sea, separating it 
from China and the Indo-Chinese Peninsula. On the 
east is the Pacific Ocean; on the north a number of 
smaller islands stretch out between it and Formosa. 
On the south similar small islands bring it into geo- 
graphical- relation with Borneo, and the Celebes Sea 
lies between Mindanao and the island of Celebes. 

NUMBER AND EXTENT OF THE ISLANDS. The 
number of islands in the Archipelago is variously esti- 
mated at from 1,400 to 1,600. They have, however,, 
never been counted, nor have even the most important 
ones ever been adequately surveyed. They range in 
size from the merest point of land appearing above the 
surface of the sea, to long stretches of territory with an 
area of many thousands of square miles. The islands 
of first geographical importance are Luzon, Mindanao, 
Samar, Panay, Negros, Leyte, Palawan, Mindora and 
the Sula Archipelago. 

THE LARGEST ISLAND OF THE GROUP is Luzon, 
which lies furtherest to the north. It is 480 miles long,, 
and has an area of 40,982 square miles. Manila, the 
capital of the Archipelago, is situated on Luzon and 
this island naturally leads the others in points of popu- 



B FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 

lation and commercial importance. For purposes of 
government the island is divided into 23 Provinces and 
a number of smaller tracts called Districts or Comman- 
dencias. 

ISLANDS ADJACENT TO LUZON. In the immedi- 
ate vicinity of Luzon are a number of lesser islands, 
most of which are included in one or another of the 
various Provinces or Districts of the larger island. 

CORREGIDOR ISLAND, lying in the middle of the 
entrance to Manila Bay, has been, under the Spanish 
regime, occupied almost wholly by lighthouse employees 
and army and navy attaches. It is a part of the Prov- 
ince of Cavite, and has but one city, San Jose. 

MINDORO ISLAND lies directly south of the Province 
of Batangas, on Luzon. In the Strait of San Bernar- 
dino, which separates it from Luzon, are several islets. 
The islands of Marinduque, Tablas and Maestre de 
Campo lie off the east shore and belong to Mindoro 
Province. On the west is the Chiwa Sea, and on the 
south the sea of Mindoro. The population of Mindoro 
is something over 100,000, but the resources of the 
island have been but imperfectly developed. 

MASBATE, BURIAS, TICAO AND SIBUYAN are 
small islands lying south of the northern extremity of 
Luzon, and west and north of the Visayas group. 

PALAWAN AND BALABAC. On the extreme south- 
west of the Archipelago lie Palawan or Paragua, and 
Balabac. The former of these is the third in size of 
the entire group. The principal town, Puerta Princesa, 
on the east coast, has an excellent harbor, and from 
earliest times the Spanish had a naval station there. 
There are but two other towns on the island, which con- 
tains, all told, only about 50,000 inhabitants. Very 
little is known of this island. The government has 
always been military, and with the exception of some 
5,000 Christians and about the same number of Moham- 
medans, the inhabitants are savages. It has an area 
of about 5,630 square miles. Balabac, to the south of. 
Palawan, is a small island of about 160 square miles. 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 9 

There is located the penal settlement of the Archi- 
pelao. There are perhaps 1,000 inhabitants of the 
island, nearly all Mohammedans. The island Cagayan 
J0I6 is governed from Balabac. 

THE VISAYAN GROUP comprises the islands lying in 
the central part of the archipelago and generally spoken 
of as the Visayas. To their north lies Luzon, on the 
south Mindanao. The Visayas comprise the islands of 
Panay, Negros, Leyte; Samar, Cebu and Bohol, with 
a number of islets, which for administrative purposes 
are included each in the province to which it is near- 
est. With the Visayan group are usually classed 

THE CALAMIANES, a province comprising a num- 
ber of little isles lying between Mindora, Panay, Pala- 
wan and the China Sea. The island of Panay is 
divided into three provinces; Negros has two, and each 
of the other islands of the Visayan group is a single 
province. The area and population of the islands of 
the group are as follow^s : 

Area 
in Sq. Miles. Population, 

Calamianes 339 16,380 

Samar. 5,337 200,753 

Panay 4,470 1,000,000 

Negros 3,090 *39^777 

Cebu 1,805 504,076 

Bohol 1,570 248,000 

Leyte 3, 100 270,491 

* Not including savages in mountains. 

THE ISLAND OF MINDANAO lies to the south of 
the Visayas. It is the second in size of the whole 
archipelago. But little is known of the interior of this 
rich region, but it is unquestionably destined to become 
equal in commercial importance to Luzon itself. It is 
the most advantageously situated of the entire group, 
being, save for one small district in the north, outside 
the track of the typhoons which periodically visit the 
Archipelago. With the small neighboring islands which 
are included in its government, it has an area of 36,450 
square miles. With these islands it is divided into six 



lO FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

Districts, as follows: Zamboanga, Misamis, Surigao, 
Davao, Cottabato and Basilan. Each of these Districts 
has depending upon it from one to a dozen Com- 
mandencias. 

The total number of the savage population of Min- 
danao has never been ascertained. There are known 
to be in the neighborhood of 90,000 scattered among 
the more accessible tribes, but in the mountains and 
the interior valleys are still uncounted hordes. Of 
other peoples, the Mohammedans, who constitute the 
largest single body of the population on the island, 
number something over 150,000. Of Christians of 
various races there are about 208,000. The capital of 
Mindanao is Zamboanga, in the district of that name. 

THE SULU ARCHIPELAGO lies southwest of Min- 
danao, and is made up of several groups, the total area 
of which is about 775 square miles. The principal 
groups of the Sulu Archipelago are the Balangingi, 
Sulu, Tapul, Tawi Tawi, Pangutaran and Laparan, be- 
sides which there are a number of smaller islands. Of 
the Balangingis, but four are of any considerable size. 
The Sulu group numbers 19 islands, of which Sulu, the 
largest, is about 97 miles in circumference. There are 
19 in the Tapul group, also, all but four being very 
small. The Tawi Tawis are 40 in number, the largest, 
Tawi Tawi, being 95 miles in circumference. The two 
remaining of the six groups are of but slight import- 
ance. Nominally subject to Spain for the past three 
centuries, the Sulu Archipelago is in reality ruled by a 
Sultan, who reigns as an absolute hereditary monarch, 
acknowledging the Sultan of Arabia as spiritual ruler 
over himself and his subjects, all of whom are Moham- 
medans. Of these there are known to be 100,000. 
The capital of the Archipelago is Sulu, or Jolo, on the 
island of Sulu. 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. il 

CHAPTER II. 

THK PKOPI.K. 

THE NATIVE TRIBES of the Philippine Archipelago 
are really very little known, notwithstanding that Spain 
has ruled this country for more than three hundred 
years. Over thirty different languages and tribes are 
officially recognized, but besides these there are many 
dialects spoken in the islands, and as each mountain 
tribe or band of savages has its own local name, and 
no one has as yet undertaken a careful study of the 
people, a good deal of uncertainty still prevails regard- 
ingthem. 

The two principal native peoples, generally known as 
the Tagalos and the Visayas, inhabit respectively the 
northern and the central parts of the Archipelago. 
These are generally meant by the term Filipino, although 
this word applies, correctly, to all native inhabitants 
of the Philippines. They are not, however, the origi- 
nal inhabitants, but are supposed to have migrated 
from Madegascar to the Malay Peninsula, and finally to 
these islands. They are believed to have been in the 
Archipelago perhaps not more than a few generations 
when the Spaniards arrived there. At this time, how- 
ever, they had already driven the aborigines from the 
plains into the mountains. The Spaniards took posses- 
sion of the country and subdued the intruders, whom 
they called Filipinos, but have never conquered the 
native tribes in the hills. The government which has 
undertaken to direct the future of the Philippines must 
take up the task of civilizing and educating a horde of 
almost savages. It is estimated that about one-fourth 
of the population of the Visayas, and one-fifth of that 
of Luzon, have never relinquished their independence. 

THE NEGRITOS, as they are called by the Spanish, or 
the Aetas, as the Filipinos call them, are found in the 
mountains on nearly all the islands. They are a timid, 
spiritless race, in appearance resembling the natives of 
Africa, but much smaller. They are black, and have 



12 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 



^ 



curly, wool-like hair, flat noses and thick lips. The 
men wear a loin-cloth; the women a little skirt reach- 
ing to the knees. The men carry long, light lances of 
bamboo, and their bows are of palm-wood. In warfare 
they use poisoned arrows. They are agile and swift- 
footed, but of feeble mental powers, showing little apti- 
tute to learn. Even when taken young and brought up 
in the cities, they are very little amenable to civilization. 
Their methods of agriculture are quite primitive, and 
they live principally upon fish and the brown moun- 
tain rice. Their religion is a sort of spirit worship. 

THE IGORROTES are, physically, a finer type than the 
Negritos. They are much taller and very muscular, but 
awkward in movement and more indolent. Never- 
theless they are braver and more warlike, being skilled 
in the use of a short, broad knife, which is their favorite 
weapon. The Igorrotes have been particularly ill- 
treated by the Spanish, who made ineffectual war upon 
them, pillaging their homes, while at the same time they 
were unable to subdue the tribes by force of arms. This 
bad conduct gave the savages a deep hatred for all 
Europeans. On the island of Panay, whither many 
have imigrated from Luzon, they have descended to the 
plains to help in the resistance to American arms, and 
have proven formidable foemen. The men wear their 
hair loug, hanging to their shoulders, at the back, and 
cut straight across the forehead. They are copper- 
colored, with flat noses, high cheekbones and large 
frames, indicative of great strength. It is hard to say 
whether they are easily civilized, as no attempt has 
ever been made to introduce among them, or, in fact, 
among any of these tribes, a civilization worthy of the 
name. Such attempts as have been made to Christian- 
ize the Igorrotes have been unsuccessful. Order is 
maintained by the tribes, among themselves, by a rude 
sort of tacit-law, which makes the family of an injured 
or murdered man his avengers against all the kin of the 
offender. The people live in little hive-like huts, into 
which they creep on all fours, and their principal means 
of subsistence is hunting and fishing, although they 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 15 

I also raise rice, sweet potatoes and some sugarcane. 
Both they and the Negritos sometimes raid the cattle 
bands of dwellers on the plains. 

THE GADDENES are a tribe living in the extreme 
northwest of Luzon, but little known, as they are wholly 
uncivilized. They are of very fine appearance, dark 
colored, well developed and of savage, warlike nature. 
They carry most formidable weapons, consisting of a 
long lance with a trident tip, and arrows pointed with 
numerous sharp, terrible teeth made from shell or bone. 
They are expert in killing fish with their lances. 

THE ITAVIS are a neighboring tribe to the Gaddenes, 
but are of lighter color, less warlike, but similar in 
their manner of living. Both these tribes raise some 
mountain rice, but live chiefly on roots, game, fish and 
fruit. 

THE TINGUI ANES are a race supposed to have descended 
from Japanese shipwrecked sailors who, unable to get 
back to their own country, took to the mountains 
inland from the west coast of Luzon. These Tinguianes 
are a fine looking people, with aquiline noses, and wear 
the hair in a crown-tuft, like the Japanese. They 
tattoo themselves and blacken their teeth, both Japan- 
ese characteristics. They build their huts on posts, or 
in trees, 60 or 70 feet from the ground, and from this 
vantage point they repel enemies by hurling stones 
upon them. They are the most intelligent of the wild 
tribes; in this respect they compare favorably with 
even the domesticated natives, usually called the 
Filipinos. 

THE MACABEBES are a very fierce and warlike tribe in 
the central and eastern part of Luzon. They are 
implacable enemies of the Spaniards and were regarded 
by them as a formidable foe. 

THE IGORROTE-CHINESE. In the latter part of 1574 
a Chinese pirate named Li-ma-hong, who had made an 
unsuccessful attack on Manila, was forced to flee, with 
his junks, from the Spanish. In doing this he aban- 
doned a number of his soldiers whom he had sent 
inland to hold the attention of the enemy, while the 



14 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

Chinese fleet slipped down the Pasig rivet and out to 
sea. These Chinese soldiers, deserted by their com- 
mander and left to their own resources fled, to the 
mountains, where they established themselves. They 
took wives from among the Igorrotes and from these 
unions sprang up in time a mixed race whose people 
combine the fierceness of the Igorrotes with the Mon- 
gol prudence and capability. They are in every way 
superior to the Igorrotes; many of them live in the 
cities or on the plains and take very kindly to civiliza- 
tion. 
OTHER MIXED RACES. There is on Luzon a race 
of people who are of unmistakable Plindoo origin, and 
who are supposed to be descended from deserters from 
one of the Sepoy regiments which General Draper 
brought to the Philippines at the time of the British 
invasion. These Hindoo-Filipinos are of fine bearing, 
sharp featured, with bright eyes and aquiline noses. 
They are intelligent and very industrious. It is said 
that they are the only natives who ever came forward 
voluntarily to pay the tribute that until recent years 
Spain exacted from all the tribes, 

THE TAGALOS are the inhabitants of the lowlands of 
Luzon. They are supposed to have come from the 
Malay countries and to have driven out the aborigines. 
They form the great mass of the "native" population, 
and their language has gradually encroached on the 
other Philippine tongues in the north. 

THE VISAYAS inhabit all the islands south of Luzon 
and north of Mindanao. In the 15th and i6th centuries 
they were called by the Spaniards Pintados, or ^'painted 
people." They were readily subdued by the Spaniards, 
whom they helped to conquer the Tagalos. They are 
by no means so agreeable in manner or character as 
the Tagalos; are less hospitable, and more mercenary. 
South of the Visayas, on Mindanao and the islands of 
the Sulu Archipelago, are a great many Mohammedans 
of Malay origin. On Mindanao are also many savage 
tribes, the majority of whom are unnumbered and 
almost wholly unknown. 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 15 

CHAPTER III. 

PHYSICAI. GEOGRAPHY. 

THE TOTAL AREA OF THE PHILIPPINE ARCH- 
IPELAGO is about 1 14,356 square miles. The islands 
are nearly all of volcanic origin. Along the east coast 
of Negros a slow upheaval from the sea is still going 
on, and in many parts of the Archipelago volcanic 
forces are constantly active. Lake Bombon, in the 
southern part of Luzon, is said to have been formed 
(though probably not within historic times) by a vol- 
canic eruption which undermined a mountain 8,000 or 
9,000 feet high. This lake is fed from subterranean 
forces, and its waters are now sweet, although accord- 
ing to native tradition they were once salt. Taal Vol- 
cano, one of the few active craters left in the archipel- 
ago, is situated on an island in the middle of this lake. 

THE PRESENCE OF CORAL REEFS along the 
shores, and also of raised beaches at a considerable 
elevation and distance inland, containing shells similar 
to those of the surrounding seas, points to a proba- 
bility that the upheaval of a large part, of the archipel- 
ago is of comparatively recent date. 

THE GEOLOGY OF THE ISLANDS is almost wholly 
unknown. The vegetation is so dense that geologists 
can only study the pebbles of the alluvium, or surface 
soil, without being able to form any idea of the under- 
lying strata. There are, also, no deep cuttings made 
by mining or other operations, such as help the geolo- 
gist to a knowledge of the rocks and soils in other 
countries. 

THE FLORA is also but little known. Few botanists 
have ever visited the country, but those who have, have 
in nearly every case been able to discover many un- 
classified plants. 

THE MINERAL WEALTH of the country cannot be 
questioned. Mining has always been discouraged, but 
there are known to be extensive coal deposits through- 
out the Camarines peninsula, on Luzon, which extend 



l6 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 

beneath the Straits of San Bernardino to the island of 
Samar; also on the adjacent slopes of Cebu and Negros, 
and probably beneath the Strait of Tafion, which sep- 
arates these two islands. Iron ore of fine quality and 
purity is found on Luzon and Mindanao, while on many 
of the islands occur copper, sulphur, lead, cinnabar and 
other minerals. Gold is found on all the islands, and 
it is believed by those familiar with its territory that 
the island of Mindanao is particularly rich in this 
metal. 

MOUNTAINS, LAKES AND RIVERS. The surface 
of the various islands of the archipelago is diversified 
by high mountain ranges, between which lie broad, fer- 
tile valleys, well watered by numerous rivers and 
lakes. 

THE PRINCIPAL MOUNTAIN RANGES have a ten- 
dency to run north and south, with a certain amount of 
deflection east or west, as the case may be. Most of 
these mountains are thickly covered with forest growths. 
Stately trees are there, in many instances overgrown 
with creeping vines and vegetable parasites bearing 
flowers of brilliant hue. Underneath grow ferns of 
mammoth size and great delicacy of beauty, while 
down the long slopes, where once, ages ago, flowed 
burning streams of lava, grow the wild banana and 
guava, strawberry plants and thick, luxuriant grasses. 
The country is particularly rich in rare and costly 
building timbers, and these virgin forests represent 
immense values. 

MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND VOLCANOS. The high- 
est mountain in the archipelago is Apo, on Mindanao^ 
which is 10,965 feet high. Other high peaks are: 

Halcon, on Marinduque, elevation 18,868 feet. 

Bactan '' Luzon, '' 9,185 " 

Banajao, '' " " 8,520 " 

Maquiling,^^ ** " 6,198 *' 

Amuyao, '' " <* 7, 500 ** 

Polis, " " « 7,285 *^ 

Asin, '' " " 6,560 *^ 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, if 

Madia-as,on Panay, elevation 7,150 feet. 

Nangtud, '' '' ** 6,720 '' 

Pagsan, '' Luzon '' T ^'h'^7 " 

Namague, '' " '' 6,590 '' 

Data, '' '' '' ab't 6,500 '' 

Besao, '' '' " '' 6,500 ** 

There are many other peaks upwards of 5,000 feet 
high. Of these a number are extinct volcanoes. Of 
active volcanoes there are now but a few, notably Taal, 
in the middle of Lake Bombon, which has the distinc- 
tion of being one of the lowest volcanoes in the world. 
The height is something over 1,000 feet. Mayon, in 
the province of Albay, is sometimes called Albay Vol- 
cano. Its height is estimated at between 8,200 and 
8,400 feet. 

THE LARGEST LAKE IN THE ARCHIPELAGO 
is Laguna de Bay, or Bay Lake, a fine body of water 
in the Province of Laguna, on Luzon. In it is a moun- 
tainous island, Talim, and several islets. It is about 
145 miles in circumference and is fed by numerous 
small streams. This lake is spreading on its south 
shore and gradually encroaching on the land in that 
direction. The Pasig River, on which the city of Man- 
ila is situated, is formed by the overflow from Luguna 
de Bay. 

LAKE BOMBON, in the southern part of Luzon, is of vol- 
canic origin. It is 11 miles wide and about 14 miles< 
long. It has no surface feeder?, and finds its way to 
the sea through the Pansipit River, which flows into 
the gulf of Balayau. 

LAKE CAGAYAN, in the extreme northeast of Luzon, 
is about 7 miles long and 5 miles wide. The other 
lakes on Luzon are hardly more than shallow mires. 

ON MINDORO, is Lake Nanjau, about 4 miles long and 
3 miles wide. 

LAKES ON MINDANAO. There are several very lovely 
lakes on the island of Mindanao. Of these the largest 
is Magundanao, or Boayan, which is 20 miles long and 
and 12 miles wide. Lake Malavao, 18 miles from the> 



1 8 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

north coast. Lakes Ligunasan and Bulnau, towards 
the south, unite in the rainy season to form one large 
body of water. These two lakes feed into the Rio 
Grande, which they swell considerably during the period 
of overflow. Besides these there is a group of four 
small lakes on the Agusuan River. 

RIVERS AND STREAMS ON LUZON. In South 
Caballo Mountain, near the centre of Luzon, rise two 
rivers, which run, one in a northerly direction, the other 
towards the south. These are called respectively, the 
Rio Grande de Cacaygan and the Rio Grande de Pam- 
panga. 

THE RIO GRANDE DE CACAYGAN runs through the 
great Cacaygan Valley, which it annually overflows, 
rendering it the richest tobacco district in the Archi- 
pelago. It has two principal affluents, the Chico and 
the Magat. The main river is 270 miles long and 
drains i ,250 square miles of territory ere it empties into 
the China Sea. 

THE RIO GRANDE DE PAMPANGA is 135 miles long. 
It waters the Pampanga Valley, with its extensive rice 
fields, fine plantations and many villages, and flows 
through about twenty mouths, into Manila Bay. 

THE ABRA RIVER, about 112 miles long, in the Data 
hills, in the central part of Luzon, runs easterly and 
empties into the China Sea at Vigan. 

THE AGUO RIVER rises in Mount Data, and empties 
into the Gulf of Lingayen. It is 143 miles long. 

THE VICOL RIVER in the Camarines peninsula, is no 
miles long. It rises in Lake Bats and runs into San 
Miguel Bay. 

THE PASIG RIVER is the outlet of Laguna de Bay, or 
Bay Lake. It is 18 miles long and having been partly 
dredged is navigable for light draught vessels, which 
sail through it to the lake. 

RIVERS ON MINDANAO. The largest river in the 
whole Archipelago is the Pulangin, or Rio Grande de 
Mindanao, which rises in Mt. Quimanguil. It drains 
lakes Bulnan and Liguasan and flows westerly to the 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 19 

Celebes Sea into which it empties near Cottabato. It 
is 300 miles long and navigable for about 100 miles of 
this distance. 
THE AGUSAN RIVER is third in size in the Archipelago, 
being 252 miles long, with numerous tributaries. It 
rises in Mounts Magbusay and Tagapo, and flows 
monthly emptying into the Gulf of Butnan. 

THE PANAY RIVER is on the island of that name. It 
is 90 miles in length, rises in the central part and 
flows north, to the sea. Jalaur River, on the same 
island, is 85 miles long. It rises near Mount Baclay 
and empties into the sea near Colong-Colong. 

THE COAST of the entire Archipelago is very much 
broken, with reefs and shoals that render many light- 
houses a necessity. 

THE PRINCIPAL PORTS are Manila, on Luzon, Ililo on 
Canay, and Cebu on the island of that name. The 
City of Subig, in Zambales District, has a magnificent 
harbor, and is bound one day to be a large commercial 
port. 

THE PRINCIPAL BAYS of Luzon are Manila, which is 
100 miles in circumference, Lamon,on the north coast 
of Tayabas District, and San Miguel, to the north of 
South Camarines. 

THE CHIEF BAYS OF MINDANAO are Macajalar, 
Iligan and Sindingan on the north, Illana on the 
southwest and Sarangani on the south. 

THE PRINCIPAL GULFS of the Archipelago are 
Lingayan on the west coast of Luzon, Casiguran, 
Lagonoy and Albay on the east, and Balayan and 
Ragay on the south. On the northwest coast of 
Mindanao are the Gulfs of Butuan and Panguil and on 
the south Sibuguey and Davao. 

IMPORTANT STRAITS are San Bernardino, lying be- 
tween the Islands of Luzon and Samar; San Juanico, 
between Samar and Leyte; Taiion, between Cebu and 
Negros and Balabac, between Balabac Island and 
Borneo. In most of these straits the current is swift 
and strong, so that navigation is somewhat difficult. 



20 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 



CHAPTER IV. 

ANIMAI. I.IFK. 

THE MAMMALS native to the islands are few in num- 
ber, but the majority of them are species native to the 
Archipelago. The only one really to be feared is the 
wild buffalo, which here, as elsewhere, is fierce and un- 
tamable. The natives do not hunt him much, but he 
affords capital sport for the European hunter, and the 
flesh is said to be very good eating. There is' also a 
domesticated buffalo in the islands, which is the sole 
available beast for draught or heavy burden. 

WILD PIGS are abundant, and hunting the wild boar is a 
favorite sport on all the islands. 1 hese pigs are sup- 
posed to have descended from animals brought over in 
very early days by the Chinese. 

DEER. There are three varieties of deer. One of these is 
the chevrotain, or mouse deer, a pretty little creature 
smaller than the domestic cat. This is found chiefly in 
Bataan, on Luzon. Of the others, one variety, Cervus 
Philippensis, belongs exclusively to these islands. 

CIVETS AND CATS. There are two varieties of civets 
and one wild cat in the islands. The natives make a 
musk-like perfume from the peculiar secretion of the 
civet, and esteem it very highly. The odor of this per- 
fume is one of the characteristic smells which new- 
comers in Manila notice. 

liODENTS are few, two or three varieties of rats, a few 
squirrels and a porcupine making up the number. 

MONKEYS, ETC. One monkey (Chongo of the Tagols) 
is found on all the islands, and on Mindanao is a pure 
white monkey (not an albino), specimens of which are 
sometimes to be seen in captivity in Manila. There is 
a flying lemur in the Archipelago, and also in several 
of the islands, another curious little member of the 
lemur tribe — the tarsier, smaller than a small squirrel, 
with very large eyes and ears, a tufted tail and long 
feet. It is somewhat rare, and inhabits the deep for- 
ests, where it feeds on insects and small lizards. Bats 
abound in all the islands. 



^ 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 21 

REPTILES. Alligators are common in many of the lakes 
and rivers, and one large variety of boa constrictor in- 
habits the islands. This creature, however, is becom- 
ing rare, as it is constantly hunted by the natives, who, 
as well as some Europeans, esteem its flesh a deli- 
cacy, while the hide makes the best sort of leather for 
sword sheaths, etc. The constrictor is also in great 
demand for musuems,for which purpose large numbers 
have been sent from the country; so that the creature 
is being exterminated. Turtles and tortoises abound, 
and there are various kinds of lizards, one of which, the 
Chacon, is a welcome guest in houses, where its presence 
means death to the various insect pests that frequent 
dwellings. There are many snakes, two of which are 
poisonous. One of these is a small variety which 
lives in the rice fields. Unless immediately cauterized 
its bite is deadly. 

FISH of many varieties and of excellent food quality abound 
in the ocean and in the inland waters of the Archi- 
pelago. A visit to the fish market of Manila is always 
interesting to the traveler in the islands, as fish are to 
be seen there of most remarkable form and vivid and 
beautiful coloring. Some of the shell fish, of which 
there is a great variety, reach an enormous size. The 
''tacloba shell," so often used there for baptismal fonts, 
sometimes weighs as much as 200 pounds. There are 
said to be sea serpents in Manila Bay, and sharks 
were at one time abundant, but these have been so 
hunted for the back fin, which is esteemed a great 
delicacy by many Oriental peoples, that they have 
almost entirely disappeared. Most of those now caught 
there are brought in by the currents from the Chinese 
coast. 

INSECTS. Ants are abundant and troublesome in the 
islands, as is also the termite, popularly called "the 
white ant," although it is not an ant at all . It is very 
destructive to woods, almost no variety withstanding 
its powerful jaws. They have been known to destroy 
in a single season the woodwork of a whole building. 
Roof timbers and walls of houses in Manila are period- 




22 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

ically examined to ensure safety from this dangerous 
pest, as neglect of this precaution may lead to the sud- 
den and disastrous fall of a roof. Houses of the better 
class are constructed of such hard woods as are known 
by experience to be least attractive to these ravenous 
termites. Mosquitos and cockroaches are plentiful, but 
have a destructive foe in the little Chacon lizard and a 
newt that frequents houses. House flies are rare. There 
are many fireflies and glow worms, which come forth at 
night and often afford a beautiful sight to the beholder. 
A whole swarm of fireflies will sometimes infest a single 
tree, causing the European observer to entertain vivid 
memories of the Christmas trees of his childhood. 
Butterflies are exceedingly numerous in the islands, 
and most of them are of rare beauty and brilliance of 
coloring. 

BIRDS. There are estimated to be between 300 and 400 
varities of birds in the Archipelago, 151 varieties of 
which are peculiar to the country. Many of the others 
belong alike to Australia and to India, but most of the 
varieties that belong to the Malay countries are absent 
from the Philippines. In Sulu and on Palawan are 
many varieties found also in Borneo, while some in the 
Sulu Archipelago are found only there. There are 
many canaries; mocking birds are plentiful; the 
pathetic-appearing '^ pigeon of the crucifixion," its 
breast splashed with crimson until it looks like a bleed- 
ing wound, is constantly seen. Many large birds of 
the eagle and hawk families abound, and brilliant hued 
parrots and white cockatoos are as great a source of 
annoyance to the farmer as the blackbirds and crows 
are to our agriculturists. Parrots sell in Manila for a 
few cents. During the mating season the woods are 
hideous with their clamoring. There are many other 
bright plumaged birds, notably several peculiar varie- 
ties of woodpecker, and a hornbill that belongs alone 
to these islands. Ducks of many sorts are plentiful, 
but the chief and best gamebird of the country is the 
jungle fowl. 



If ACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 23 



CHAPTER IV. 

THK SULU ARCHIPKI.AGO. 

EARLY SETTLEMENT. In the first part of the i6th 
century, Paguian Tindig, a chief of Borneo, on account 
of family quarrels, left that country, with a band of 
warriors, and settled, first, on the island of Basilan. 
Afterwards Tindig, leaving his cousin Adasaolan on 
Basilan, went with his followers to the island of Sulu. 
Here Tindig established his sultanate throughout the 
six groups of small islands, now known as the Sulu 
Archipelago. These, with the island of Basilan, really 
constitute a continuation of the large island of Minda- 
nao Adasaolan continued to reign over Basilan until^ 
moved by ambition, he took up arms against his cousin 
and undertook to conquer the Sulu Archipelago. In the 
battle between his forces and those of the Sultan, Tin- 
dig, the latter was killed. The victor, however, instead 
of establishing his sway over Sulu, went back to Basilan^ 
and Rajah Bongso reigned in Tindig's stead. 

THE MOHAMMEDAN RELIGION haJ sometime pre- 
vious been introduced into Mindanao by Arabian mis- 
sionaries. Adasaolan married a daughter of the king- 
of Mindanao, and embraced the faith, which he after- 
wards introduced into Sulu. In course of time it spread 
throughout the Archipelago, and at the present time 
there are, in the six groups, about 100,000 Mohamme- 
dans, with more than twice that number on Mindanas, 
and several thousands on the island of Palawan. Over 
all these the Sultan of Sulu has sovereignty. Although 
nominally a vassal of Spain, he is practically an inde- 
pendent ruler, Spain's sovereignty never having been 
more than a name. 

It is probably owing, in a measure, to the fact that, 
unlike the Filipinos, these people of the south had a 
deep-rooted religious faith not easy to be shaken, and,, 
in still larger measure, to their own fierce, warlike 
natures and their indifference to pain, even to death 
itself, that they have never been really conquered 



by the Spaniards. 



34 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 



MOHAMMEDAN PIRACY. In the early part of their 
conquest of the Philippines, the Spaniards made some 
attempt to control the Mohammedans in the south. 
They only succeeded, however, in stirring them up to 
take vengeance, and for nearly three hundred years 
after, the Mohammedans harried the coasts of all the 
islands, going, even up to nearly the middle of the pres- 
ent century, as far north as Manila, laying waste the 
villages of the coast, sacking and burning large towns, 
driving the inhabitants into the interior and carrying 
off thousands, both Spanish and native, into slavery. 
They destroyed commerce and greatly retarded the 
development of the islands. There are still living, to- 
day, people in Manila, who know what it is to have 
been carried as slaves to the Sulu Archipelago. 

DESTRUCTION OF PIRACY. In i860, Spain sent 
out a fleet of 19 gunboats against the pirates and suc- 
ceeded in checking their depredations. Since then, 
by the aid of modern machinery of war, she has in 
some measure made good her claim to dominion over 
the Sulu Archipelago. A few places in that region 
have been garrisoned, but in 1890, Mr. John Foreman, 
of the Royal Geographical Society of England, who 
has made an exhaustive study of the Philippine Archi- 
pelago, wrote : 

*Tt is at great sacrifice that the Spanish can retain. 
'* the little possession which they have in the south, 
*' and frequent acts of violence are still perpetrated on 
*' them by the turbulent Musselmans, who virtually 
** refuse to recognize other rights than those of their 
" Sultans, to whom they give allegiance. Indeed, it may 
** be unhesitatingly asserted that the Spaniards hold no 
" more domain in Mindanao and the Sultanate of Sulu 
" than that of a day's march from their respective garri- 
" sons ; and in Mindanao in particular, not one-hundredth 
" part of the territory." 

THE PEOPLE OF SULU ARCHIPELAGO are by far 
the most prepossessing of the native races in the 
Philippines. They, in particular the women, dress 
with more taste than the women among even the Chris- 



eir I 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 25 



^■p tian natives. They are fond of bright colors, notably 
^^\^ green, and scarlet, and wear these a great deal. Their 
B dress consists of baggy trousers with a very tight 

■ bodice that shows the figure to advantage, and over 

■ these the jabul, a long strip of cloth which protects the 

■ head and is wrapped about the body. The long end 
of the jabul, which would otherwise reach the feet, is 
usually tucked up under one arm. They wear much 
jewelry and coil the hair at the top of the head. They 
have very attractive features. 

THE DRESS OF THE MEN is a very close fitting coat, 
something like an Eton jacket, reaching to the hips, and 
very tight trousers, with a great many bright buttons 
up the outside seams. The hair is worn in a sort of 
chignon at the back of the neck, and all, but in par- 
ticular the chiefs, are fond of adornment. The men, 
like the women, are of fine appearance; fierce- 
natured, sober and of abstemious habits. Every 
male above the age of 16 years is liable to military 
duty, and is obliged by law to carry a kris, a cutting 
blade, usually as long as a short sword, with a fluted, or 
waved edge. 

THE LANGUAGE OF THESE MALAY MOHAM- 
MEDANS is derived from the Sanscrit, with an ad- 
mixture of Arabic and some Hindoo words of an origin 
so ancient that it is said that they were already dis- 
appearing from Hindoo speech in the time of Buddha. 
It is not known how these words found their way into 
use among the people of Sulu and Mindanao. 

THE SULTANATE is hereditary under the Salic law. 
The Sultan has three ministers, of whom one acts as 
regent in his absence (as if he should make the pil- 
grimage to Mecca). The second is Minister of War; 
the third Minister of Justice and Master of Ceremonies. 
There are many chiefs, called Dattos, and sub-rulers 
called Caciques. The priests, both here and on 
Mindanao, are called Pandita's. 

THE CAPITAL OF THE ARCHIPELAGO is Sulu, or 
J0I6, on the island of Sulu. It is picturesquely located, 
and a very charming city of about 1,500 inhabitants. 



L^ 



26 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

It has fine parks and attractive streets. The sanitary 
arrangement of the city is so good that it has the repu- 
tation of being one of the healthiest towns in the world. 
The water supply is excellent. The city is surrounded 
on the land side, by a wall, loop-holed for defense. 
Outside are two forts while within the walls are two 
others, besides two strong redoubts. 

MANUFACTURE OF ARMS. Many of these people 
are skilled artificers, who make most of the arms carried 
by the warriors. They also make some bronze cannon 
the copper for which is mined in the Archipelago. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THK CLIMATK. 

THE GENERAL CHARACTER of the climate of the 
Philippines is tropical, but owing to the extent of the 
country, and to its position, a very wide range of tem- 
perature and local conditions is to be observed. 

THE SEASONS. Generally speaking, there are three 
seasons, cold, hot and wet. The first begins usually 
about the first of November, and lasts until the end of 
February. The temperature then is delightful; the air 
balmy and springlike, with northerly winds, a clear sky 
and bracing atmosphere. Fires are not needed, but in 
the cool of the morning flannels are comfortable. The 
hot season begins about March ist, and lasts to until 
June. The heat is very oppressive before the begin- 
ning of the southerly monsoons, and in May and June 
there are thunderstorms and typhoons. During July, 
August, September and October it rains the greater 
part of the time, the lakes rise, rivers overflow and 
much low country is flooded. 

TEMPERATURE RECORDS. The following records 
of temperature, kept for the whole Archipelago, at the 
Manila observatory, show the mean temperature and 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 27 

rainfall at points throughout the Archipelago, during 
the three seasons of each year from 1870 to 1877: 



Manila 



HOT COLD WET 

^Mean temperature 72°32°' 87°26" 84°S6' 
(Rainfall (inches) 8.65 10.47 36.01 



^ , (Mean temperature 75° 2" 86°23" 7S°86" 

^ " " < Rainfall (inches) 12.54 9,29 26.90 

^ (Mean temperature 86^90" 8870" 87°ii'' 

iJavao ^Rainfall (inches) 16.53 39.27 32-57 

^ , (Mean temperature 8i°98" 88°7o" 87°! i'' 

^"^" ' ^Rainfall (inches) 15.74 33-85 35-43 

It is always warm in Manila, and through the middle 
of the day the heat, in the sun, is oppressive, but 50 
miles from the city, in a straight line, frost may be 
found eight months in the year. The climate of the 
Archipelago is mild and salubrious. The wind that 
sweeps the islands is purified, ere it reaches them, by 
passing over hundreds of miles of ocean. There are 
no endemic diseases, although the natives, like the 
American Indians, and, indeed, most but partly civi- 
lized peoples are liable to and extremely susceptible to 
smallpox. Consumption is almost unknown, and, given 
good sanitary conditions, the country should be one of 
the m.ost healthful in the world. 

TYPHOONS, STORMS AND E A.RTHQUAKES. With 
the exception of Mindanao, the islands lie within the 
track of the typhoons which sweep these seas. At 
least once a year the city of Manila is visited by a storm 
of this nature. In some years they have done great 
damage, destroying shipping, unroofing houses, even 
blowing over such as are built of wood. At different 
times the country has been visited by earthquakes. 
As a rule, however, these are so slight as scarcely to be 
noticed. The most serious one of this century occurred 
in June, 1863, when, in the space of one-half moment 



28 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 



in the city of Manila alone, many people were injured 
and much property destroyed. 

There are no endemic diseases in the islands, such 
as most tropical countries are subject to. Dysentery^ 
smallpox and fevers are the most common maladies, 
together with certain cutaneous diseases, as leprosy. In 
places along the seacoast the thermometer seldom rises 
above 97° F. A good breeze, cool and refreshing usu- 
ally springs up at night. 



.n 



CHAPTER VI. 

CITIES AND TOWNS. 

MANILA, the capital of the Philippines, was established as 
such by Legaspi, in the year 1571. The city was laid 
out in accordance with his ideas, and in 1590 the walls 
were built. In course of time many small towns grew up 
about the walled city, coming at last so close to its very 
gates as to form with it one continuous city. There 
are eight gates to the walled city, but since the middle 
of the present century these have never been closed. 
The walls are surrounded by a moat, and there are 
drawbridges which, however are never raised. Within 
the walls are all the principal government offices, the 
archbishop's palace, the cathedral, a fine, massive 
edifice that has been three times destroyed by earth- 
quake and as often rebuilt. Besides it, there are, in 
the walled city, a number of other churches, as well as 
monasteries and convents. Manila and its surrounding 
suburbs constitute in reality one city of about 300,000 
inhabitants. The old city, Manila proper, is called by 
the Spanish and foreigners "The Walled City;'' only 
the natives ever speak of it as Manila, which name ap- 
plies in general to the whole capital. Some of the 
suburbs have in fact surpassed the ancient town in 
growth. The district of Binondo is really the business 
centre of the city; here are all the commercial houses, 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 29 

foreign and domestic, and here centres the shipping 
and mercantile interest of the Archipelago. Tondo 
district, to the north of Binondo, is where the natives 
have their homes, mostly mere huts of bamboo roofed 
with thatch of nipa palm leaves. San Miguel and San 
Sebastian districts are the more aristocratic residence 
portions of the city. Here are many fine houses, sur- 
rounded by beautiful gardens. The other suburbs are 
San Jose, Santa Cruz, Sampaloc, Duiapa La Ermita 
and Paco. 

The water supply at Manila is excellent. The city 
owns the waterworks, the pumping station of which is 
situated about 8 miles from town. The establishment 
for all time of this fine supply is due to the foresight 
and generosity of a former Governor-General, Carriedo,. 
who, on his death, in 1743, left a fund for the establish- 
ment and maintainance of public waterworks. The 
city lies on both sides of the Pasig River, across which 
has been built three bridges, one a suspension bridge,, 
while the Ayala bridge and the famous " Bridge of 
Spain '' are of stone. The last named bridge connects 
Binondo with the walled city, and across it, from day- • 
light until midnight, passes a continuous stream of 
traffic, making it, at any time during the day, a scene 
of great and noisy activity. 

PUBLIC CHARITIES AND INSTITUTIONS. There 
are several good hospitals in Manila, the Hospital Civil,, 
the Hospicio de San Jose and the leper hospital of St. 
Lazarus. This contains about 150 patients. It was 
established in 1633, for the accommodation of a com- 
pany of over a hundred lepers, who were sent in a junk 
to Manila by the Emperor of Japan, who, outraged by 
the persistent efforts of the San Franciscans of the 
islands to force their w^ay into Japan, caused all Chris- 
tians to be expelled from his country. The monks from 
the Philippines having peculiarly exasperated him by 
entering the country under false colors, he caused many 
of them taken there to be executed, and afterwards, in 
derision, sent his junk load of poor lepers to Manila as 
a present to the monks, sending at the same time a let- 



r 



^o FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 

ter explaining that he understood them to be specially- 
devoted to such sufferers. The first impulse of the 
Spaniards was to sink the junk by firing upon it, but 
the unfortunates were finally received, a shed being 
built for them on the site where the fine St. Lazarus 
Hospital now stands. 

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES exist at Manila which 
make what provision there is for higher education. In- 
struction in these includes navigation, drawing, paint- 
ing bookkeeping, languages, history, arts and trades, 
etc. There is also a school of agriculture, with branch 
schools and model farms in ten Provinces. The edu- 
cational institutions of the islands are wholly under 
control of the monks and priests. There are also 
schools and colleges at Cebu,and Jaco (Yloilo Province, 
on Panay). The '* University of St. Thomas," in Man- 
ila issues diplomas in law, medicine, theology and phar- 
macy, and confers the degree of L.L.D. There are also 
primary schools and two Normal schools in the islands, 
besides one at Manila, under the charge of the St. 
Augustine Sisterhood. The Jesuits have a good astro- 
nomical observatory at Manila, and throughout the 
country are fifty-two private schools. 

There are three telegraph lines centering at Manila. 
The total number of telegraph stations on Luzon is 57. 
The submarine cable reaches Luzon at Bolinas, whence 
a wire connects it with Manila. 

TRANSPORTATION. A tramway extends from Manila 
to Malabon, 4)^ miles distant, and a railway runs from 
Manila to Dagupan, a distance of 122 miles. Vessels 
leave Manila daily for ports on Luzon, and weekly for 
inter-island ports. 

ARCHITECTURE. The buildings of Manila are erected 
to withstand, so far as possible, the action of earth- 
quakes and typhoons. Many of the more modern 
ones are of timber, covered with corrugated iron. Most 
of the roofs are of this material, so much fatality hav- 
ing, in years past, resulted from the falling of the heavy 
tile roofs first used by the Spaniards. The older build- 
ings have massive walls, sometimes many feet in thick- 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES. 31 

ness, while owing to the depredations of the white ant, 
which eats its way through the woodwork. What timbers 
are used are of hard wood of extraordinary thickness. 
Iron stairs, balconies, railings and sills are now coming 
into use instead of wood, in Manila, The homes are 
for the most part built in the Spanish manner, around 
an open court. The ground floor is usually of stone, 
and is used as quarters for the animals and domestics 
of the household* The upper story is of somewhat 
lighter structure, with many windows, which are left 
open as much as possible. In this upper story the fam- 
ily resides. In the suburbs are many wooden houses 
with roofs of thatch, while the homes of the natives are 
tiny huts, raised upon stilted foundations, built of bam- 
boo, which resists the ants, with roofs of nipa palm 
leaves, used as thatch. 

THE DRESS OF PEOPLE IN MANILA is such as the 
climate renders necessary. The men wear clothing of 
white drill, Japanese crepe, nankeen or the thin native 
fabrics. The poorer natives and the Chinese coolies 
go about wearing only the loin cloth, or short trousers 
reaching to the knee, but, as the population is in the 
broadest sense cosmopolitan, almost any variety of 
attire is to be seen on the streets of the city. Ladies 
do not often appear in the street, except in carriages, 
as it is contrary to etiquette. The native women wear 
skirts of white, red or green, with a low chemisette of 
white; they cover the head with a mantilla of thin stuff 
and wear the quaint little Japanese sandals on their 
bare feet. Market-women wear a short skirt and the 
serong, a strip of cloth corresponding to the juba, of 
Sulu. The Visayan women also wear the serong. 

From noon until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, 
very little business is done, and nearly the entire pop- 
ulation **sleeps the siesta," the phrase used with regard 
to the long daytime sleep indulged in by people in the 
tropics. 

OTHER CITIES ON LUZON. Besides Manila there 
are, on the island of Luzon, the following cities with 
upwards of 10,000 inhabitants. 



32 FACTS ABOU r THE PHILIPPINES. 

NORTH ILOCOS PROVINCE. 
City. Population. 

Lasag (capital) , 36,917 

Batac 17,522 

Bacarra 13,528 

San Nicolas ...11 ,000 

SOUTH ILOCOS PROVINCE. 

Vigan (capital) 11 ,459 

Narvacan 14)967 

Candong 15,765 

Santa Maria 10,000 

CACAYGAN PROVINCE. 

Tuguegarao (capital) 17,178 

UNION PROVINCE. 

San Fernando (capital) 1 1,5^7 

Balaoang 10,874 

Agoo 1 2,000 

Tubao 12 ,000 

ISABELA PROVINCE. 

Ilagan (capital) 11,105 

Cabagan 10,000 

PANGASINAN PROVINCE. 

Lingayan (capital) 17,612 

San Carlos 26,000 

Dagupan 10,932 

Binnialey ^l^7^7 

Calasiao 1 2,3 19 

Malasiqui 10,834 

Several others of 10,000 or more inhabitants in this 
Province. 

NEW ECIJA. 

Gapan 20,000 

TARLAC PROVINCE. 

Tarlac (capital) 10,000 

Concepcion 10,000 

Victoria 1 1,190 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 33 

PAMPANGA PROVINCE. 
City, Population. 

Macabebe 19,472 

Candava I3>I3S 

Lubao 20,498 

Mexico 16,639 

BULACAN PROVINCE. 

Bulacan (capital) 14,000 

Balinag 15 ,000 

San Miguel de Mayunio 20,418 

CAVITE PROVINCE. 

Indan 13 ,008 

Bacoor 14,000 

Imus 14,000 

San Roque 10,692 

LAGUNA PROVINCE. 

Santa Cruz (capital) 1 3 1656 

Binan 1 5,5 12 

Calamba .11 ,597 

BATANGAS PROVINCE 

Batangas (capital) 37,35o 

Villa de Lipa 38,701 

Banang 38,416 

Taal .-.33 ,000 

Several others exceeding 20,000 population. 
TAYABAS PROVINCE. 

Tayabas (capital) 15,912 

Lucban 12,200 

NORTH CAMARINES. 

Daet (capital) ...11 ,640 

SOUTH CAMARINES. 

Libmanan 14,603 

Nabua 16,572 

Iriga 14,074 



LofC, 



34 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

ALBAY PROVINCE. 
City. Population. 

Albay (capital) 10,587 

Tabaco 18,142 

Cagsaua 20,263 

Camalig 1 7 ,2 1 7 

Gumobatan 18,889 

Ligao 17,849 

Several others with 10,000 inhabitants. 

CITY MANILA PROVINCE. 

Manila (capital) 300,000 

Malabon 20,000 

Pasig 20,000 

CITIES OF 10,000 OR MORE ON OTHER ISLANDS. 
City. Location. Population. 

Cuyo, Cuyo Island, Calamianes (capital).. . 11,526 

Calbayog Island of Samar 33,872 

Basay ... <• <* 13,628 

Guinan ** ** 1 1*325 

Catarman ** ** 10,779 

Jaro Iloilo Province, Panay J 2,848 



1 



Janiuay . 

Miagao ** 

Cabatnan ** 

Pototan " 

Santa Barbara.. *' 

Oton *« 

Tigbauan ** 

San Joaquin.. . . ** 

Passi 

Dumangas ** 

Capiz Ccapital) Capiz 

Panay " 

Batan «* 

Calivo . ** 

Bajay ** 

Sibaton Antique 

Pandan ** 

Bugason ** 



. . . .20,225 

20,437 

18,499 

.... 14,063 
. . . . 17,000 

. . I each 
. . <; about 
. . I 13,000 

. . . .22,000 
....17,287 
.. . .13,000 
. . . .13,000 

13,000 

14,410 

... .13,497 
16,949 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 35 

City. Location. Population. 

Bacolod, West Negros Province, Negros 10,369 
Minutuan " << « 11,284 

Jimaylan <* " *« 1 1,521 

Bago " « " 10,580 

Savaria " ** " I7,759 

Silay " " " 13,621 

Dumaguete (capital) East Negros P., " 13,839 
Tanjay " " '' ii,54i 

Cebu (capital) Island of Cebu ........ 14,099 

Argao . " " 30,926 

Carcar " " 3 1 ,72 1 

San Nicolas. . . " " 20,258 

Daluguete " " 19,429 

Sibonga " " 23,516 

Several others with to exceed 10,000. 

Loboc Island of Bohol 10,827 

Jagna " " 12,683 

Maribajoc .... " «• 10,682 

Loon " " 15,391 

Tubigon " " 1 6,7 1 3 

Palo Island of Leyte 1 8,343 

Tananan " " 1 8,468 

Dagami " " 23,905 

Ormoc " '' 17,152 

Boranen " " 1 5,548 

Maasin " " 16,682 

Baybay " " 17,058 

Zamboanga (capital) Zambo ,nga District, 

Mindanao 10,000 

Cacaygan de Misamis (capital) Misamis 

District, Mindanao 11 ,029 

Balinsagag, Misamis District, Mindanao. . .11,491 
Butuan, Surigao *' ** 10,876 

Cantilan, '' " ** 10,576 



36 I^ACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

CHAPTER VIII. 

THE FORESTS. 

THE PRIMEVAL FOREST of the Philippines still 
clothes the mountain slopes and spreads out through 
the valleys, everywhere in the islands. The restrictive 
policy of the Spanish has been such that but little 
timber, comparatively speaking, has ever been ex- 
ported, and, as iron is largely superceding wood as a 
building material in the ant-ridden islands themselves, 
the mighty forests are practically untouched. There 
grow, as in the north of Luzon, many trees indigenous 
to European soils, as oaks, cedars, etc., but besides 
these are vast numbers of trees from which must come, 
in future years, the fine building woods of the world. 

MANY TREES OF THE HIGHEST COMMERCIAL 
usefulness grow on the island of Mindanao alone. There 
grow giant mahogany trees, yielding wood as deep and 
rich in color as that of San Domingo ; the rubber tree 
and the tree from which gutta percha is obtained, both 
flourish there ; there is the bansalague tree, from which 
spikes and bolts are made that can be driven through 
other hard woods. The lanan tree is a native of the 
country. Its light easily worked wood cannot be split, 
and the Spaniards use it for the sheathing of ships. 
The molan tree, called by the natives ** the queen of 
the forest," yields wood which resists the action of the 
sea and of the toredo. The bejuca vine, a natural 
rope of great strength and pliability, grows here to a 
length of about loo feet, with a diameter of an inch. 
The cotton tree grows wild throughout the Archipelago, 
and the bamboo, of universal usefulness and great 
beauty, is found everywhere. Rafts, furniture, houses, 
roofs, scaffolding, baskets, hats, cups, spoons, nearly 
everything of household and industrial use, can be 
made from the bamboo, and the natives even make a 
very nice salad of the leaves. Bogo is another very 
useful cane, and the sapan tree furnishes the crimson 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 37 

dye, for the making of which it is exported in large 
quantities. 

These forests have the acle tree, the wood of which 
is almost incombustible; the antipolo, which once sea- 
soned, does not warp, resists the seaworm and is use- 
ful for keels and outside planking of ships; the batiti- 
nan, a stronger wood than teak, for which it is a good 
substitute; the dungon, called ironwood, which gives 
logs of immense strength, ebony, lante, useful for cabi- 
net work, the making of musical instruments and de- 
lightful for the wood carvers' use, and mancono, a 
variety of lignum vitae. Once these woods are well- 
known there will be a steady demand for all of the 50 
or more varieties which the island forests yield. 



CHAPTER IX. 

AGRICUI.TURK A.ND FOOD PRODUCTS. 

THE STAPLE FOOD of the natives in the Philippines is 
rice. Besides this the plants of primary commercial 
value are tobacco, manila-hemp, sugar cane, coffee and 
cocoa. 

THE BEST TOBACCO is grown in the Cacaygan Valley, 
on the island of Luzon. The annual production here 
amounts to 350,000 bales. It is, however, grown in 
many other of the provinces of Luzon, and in fact, to 
some extent, on all the islands of the Archipelago. 

COFFEE GROWING has only been followed there since 
the beginning of the present century, but the plant has 
thriven remarkably well in the islands. While there 
is but one annual crop, as against several, in other 
coffee raising countries, the shrubs, or trees, attain great 
vigor of growth and a remarkable age. The average 
usefulness of a coffee-tree is about 25 years, but in these 
islands there are trees in vigorous bearing that were 
among the original plants first brought there, some 90 



zL 



38 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

years since, while others are known to have survived 
two or three generations of planters. The best coffee 
from the islands is grown in the Provinces of Batangas, 
Laguna and Cavite, on Luzon. 

THE COCOA TREE flourishes in hot, damp districts, but 
here, as elsewhere, the industry is somewhat precarious, 
as the crop is subject to many dangers. A heavy storm 
may destroy a whole season's fruit; or disease attack 
the roots and kill out an entire plantation. It is gen- 
erally regarded as an adjunct to other crops. The 
cocoa from the Philippines is of excellent quality. 

SUGAR-CANE PLANTATIONS are to be found through- 
out the Archipelago, but the island of Negros has the 
finest soil for raising sugar-cane. The sugar from Ne- 
gros and Panay is very largely shipped to the United 
States, but the bulk of the sugar crop of the Philip- 
pines goes to China. It is all shipped raw, the refined 
product scarcely being enough to supply the home de- 
mand. 

COCOA-NUT PLANTATIONS are a characteristic 
feature of the Philippine landscape, and the cultivation 
of cocoanut trees is one of the most profitable indus- 
tries in the country. At seven years' growth the cocoa- 
nut-palm seldom fails, it is sa d, to yield an unvarying 
crop of 20 large nuts monthly. Cocoanut-oil is used 
everywhere in the Archipelago, for lighting, and, when 
fresh, for cooking. Cocoanuts, cut in half, are used by 
the natives for cleaning floors; they give a high polish 
to hardwood floors. The milk of the cocoanut is very 
refreshing and quenches the thirst without heating the 
blood. On every cocoanut plantation some trees are 
set apart for the extraction of tuba, a favorite native 
beverage, procured by tapping the tree and catching 
the juice in vessels set for the purpose. The tuba is 
collected every 24 hours, and used fresh. If allowed 
to ferment it is not so palatable, and becomes intoxica- 
ting. The fermented juice is distilled into the familiar 
cocoa wine of commerce. Trees from which tuba 
is extracted do not bear fruit. 



» 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 39 

ON THE ISLAND OF LUZON considerable attention 
has been paid to raising vegetables for the Manila mar- 
ket, and besides the products peculiar to the country, 
fine onions, tomatos, beans, peas, corn, peanuts and 
watermelons are raised. 

NATIVE PRODUCTS OF THE SOIL. The camote, 
or yam, grows wild in all the islands; also the gabi, an 
esculent root resembling the turnip. The mami, or mon- 
key-nut, and the areca nut, which, split in slices about 
one-eighth of an inch thick, are wrapped in leaves of 
the buyo tree, (piper betel) and then make the famous 
" betel nut" chewed by the natives of India, and other 
Asiatic countries. The pineapple is very generally cul- 
tivated for the sake of the fibre, from which pina-cloth 
is made, but the natives do not eat the fruit as it is con- 
sidered dangerous. Oranges grow on Luzon and Min- 
danao, several varieties of lemons, and the Philippine 
mangoes are the finest known. The nutmeg tree grows 
on Palawan and cinnamon on Mindanao, while chillies, 
ginger and vanilla grow wild on many of the islands. 
The sago palm flourishes, and large quantities of honey 
are to be found throughout the forests. Guavas grow 
wild on the hills, tamarinds and shaddocks, the bread 
fruit and mangosteen, loquats, lanzons, and, on Minda- 
nao, the durien, a tree which bears every twenty years, 
a fruit as large as a pineapple, snowy, luscious and re- 
freshing, but with an odor resembling that of strong, 
old cheese. On many of the islands is much fine graz- 
ing land, and large herds of cattle are pastured over 
them. The small, hardy ponies of the country are 
exceedingly serviceable. The cariboa, or native buffalo 
fills the place of European and American herds. 

Owing to the conditions that have prevailed in the 
islands for the past three centuries, agriculture, like 
commerce, is greatly retarded. On the west side of 
Negros many Europeans have settled, and these have 
introduced modern methods and much modern 
machinery, but elsewhere in the Archipelago, methods 
are of the most primitive, and the sugar mills and other 
machinery such as were introduced by the Chinese a 



40 FACTS ABOCT THE PHILIPPINES, 

great many \ ears ago. The Igorrotes are good agri- 
culturists, as are the Tuiguianes, but only a very small 
proportion of the arable land of the country is under 
cultivation. 

EDIBLE BIRDS NESTS considered a great delicacy by 
the Chinese, who pay high prices for them, are found 
in the Calamianes. The bird making this nest is the sea 
swallow. The nests resemble vermicelli, with reddish 
spots. The natives climb for them to dangerous 
heights among the rocks. When a nest is taken the 
birds construct another, which is also secured, where- 
upon a third is built, which is not usually considered 
worth taking, and in which at last the young brood is 
reared. As the birds build among the wet cliffs, in 
the more inaccessible places. Hunting these nests is a 
dangerous occupation. 



CHAPTER X. 

COMMERCK AND MANUFACTURES. 

THE SPANISH have never been a commercial people 
and for this reason Spain has not, in the whole course 
of her history, made any attempt to develop the natural 
resources of her colonies. Her policy has been rather 
to restrict and hinder commercial enterprise in her 
dependencies, while at the same time she has system- 
atically taken from them all revenues obtainable, even 
those which, of very necessity, should have been de- 
voted to the upbuilding of the colonies that they might 
become a further source of revenue. The results of this 
shortsighted policy are particularly manifest in the 
Philippines, where even such enterprise as the natives 
might be inclined to manifest is checked by their knowl- 
edge that for them to acquire competence would be but 
the signal for furthur extortion from the mother coun- 
try. 



p^^B FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 41 

I THE COMMERCE OF THE ARCHIPELAGO centers 
B at Manila. Exports are, for the most part, of raw 

B materials, the only manufactured staples exported being 

" cigars, cordage, hides and a few hats of straw, or finely 

split bamboo. 

THE COPRA TRADE, which consists of sendiug the 
meatof cocoanuts to Europe, where the oil isextracted> 
is extensive, and gives rise to an important industry in 
nearly all the islands. 

MANILA HEMP, from which is manufactured manila 
rope and many other fabrics for which these islands are 
noted, is exported in large quantities. The hemp tree 
is a wild variety of plantain, from which species we also 
have the banana. It grows wild throughout the Archi- 
pelago, usually on hillsides, and does capitally on vol- 
canic slopes. It likes water but not marshy ground, 
and grows to the best advantage where larger trees 
shade it from the direct rays of the sun. The hemp 
tree reaches a height of about 10 feet. It is endogen- 
ous and the stem is inclosed in a layer of half-round 
petioles. These are taken off and cut into strips two 
or three inches wide, which are laid across a block and 
drawn under the edge of a long, sharp knife. In this 
way the pulp is scraped back while the bark or fibre, is 
drawn out and wound upon a stick. Care must be 
taken not to bruise the fibre, and no machine has yet 
been invented to do the work of extracting the bark 
without injuring it. The fibres, when properly drawn, 
are about 6 feet, 6 inches long. 

A FINE CLOTH CALLED LUPIS is manufactured 
from fibres drawn from the edges of especially selected 
petioles. This cloth is admirable for ladies dresses. 

PINA CLOTH is a very beautiful, silky fabric of a texture 
as delicate as that of the finest Bombay muslin. It is 
manufactured by the natives from fibres of pineapple 
plant. On Panay the natives mix the fibre used in 
making lupis cloth and that of the pineapple in weav- 
ing: an excellent fine cloth called husi. It is sometimes 



42 FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 

imposed upon strangers as pina cloth, but it is much 
less flexible. The natives of Panay also manufacture 
an excellent coarse cloth called sinamay. 

WOOLEN AND DYED COTTON CLOTHS are also 
made, in the Provinces of Ilocos, (north and south) on 
Luzon. These cloths are highly esteemed in the 
islands. 

THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS are at a low ebb. The 
natives were first taught to weave by a Spanish priest, 
in 1575. Besides their pina and hemp cloths, they 
make very fine silk and cotton cloths, and some of the 
hats woven by them are of great beauty and delicacy 
of structure. They also manufacture some very good 
coarse pottery, for which there is excellent clay in 
many of the islands. They are good silversmiths, hav- 
ing learned this from the Spaniards, who are skilled in 
such work. The women are especially skillful in mak- 
ing ornaments and jewelry. They do all the work, 
from refining the rough gold and silver to designing 
and executing the finished ornament. The natives are 
also expert engravers, map-makers, bookbinders, and 
excel in various other handicrafts which require dex- 
terity and delicate manipulation. 

PEARL FISHERIES. There are extensive pearl fishing 
grounds in the waters along the coasts of Mindanao 
and the Sulu Archipelago. The pearls from the Sulu 
islands are very fine and a large trade is done there 
with foreign ships, in pearl and mother of pearl. The 
pearl fisheries of Zamboanga,on Mindanao are also very 
good. 

The entire Archipelago is, as we have seen, in an 
almost wholly undeveloped state, but with a staple gov- 
ernment, insuring both natives and foreigners in the 
rights that belong to 19th century civilization, 
the islands are bound to become a productive and pros- 
perous territory. Once capital is made to feel secure, 
it is sure to engage in the opening up of this great al- 
. most unexplored region, while the native, once he 
cohies to understand a state of society under which he 



FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES, 43 

will not be immediately robbed of whatever he acquires 
through his own toil, will be quick to appreciate the 
value to himself of industry and enterprise. Hereto- 
fore he has had no incentive to exercise these traits. 
They have been, in fact, his actual undoing, under a 
regime which made the measure of his plundering by 
the State merely the extent of his ability to acquire. 




INDEX. 



CHAPTER I— HISTORIC. 
First Appearance in History— Magellan's Discoveries— His Death -First 
Governor— General British Invasion— Taken by the Americans- 
Signing of Peace Treaty — Geographical Position — Nature and 
:^xtent of the Islands PAGKS 5-10 

CHAPTE^R II— THK PEOPt^F). 
The Filipinos — Wild Tribes — Mixed Races — Visayas and Tagalos, 

etc PAGF:s 11-14 

chaptf:r III— physicai, gf:ography. 

Total Area of Archipelago — Mineral Wealth — Principal Mountains, I^akes 

and Rivers, etc PAGF)S 15-19 

CHAPTE:r IV— ANIMAI, I.IFK. 

pagf;s 20-22 
chapte:r V— suIvU archipf:i,ago. 

ICarly Settlement — Mohammedanism Introduced— Piracy and Its Destruc- 
tion—The Sultanate, etc PAGF;s 23-26 

CHAPTER VI— the; ClylMATp;. 
General Character — The Seasons — Temperature 'Records — Typhoons, 

Storms and F;arthquakes, etc PAGFJS 26-28 

chaptf:r VII— cities and towns. 

Manila— Its Charities and Institutions— Schools and Colleges— Architec- 
ture— Dress of the People — Cities of Over 10,000 Inhabitants, 
etc PAGE:s 28-35 

CHAPTER VIII— THE FORESTS. 

PAGES 35-36 

CHAPTER IX— AGRICUI.TURE AND FOOD PRODUCTS. 
Best Tobacco Land — Introduction of Coffee Growing — Cocoa — Sugar 

Cane— Cocoa Nuts— Edible Birds'-Nests, etc PAGES 36-39 

CHAPTER X— COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURE. 
Copra Trade— Hemp— Native Manufactures— Industrial Arts— Pearl Fish- 
eries, etc PAGES 39-42 



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